US 11852901

Here's a concise summary of US Patent 11852901, "Wireless headset supporting messages and hearing enhancement":

Title: Wireless headset supporting messages and hearing enhancement
Assignee: Ingeniospec LLC
Inventors: Thomas A. Howell, David Chao, C. Douglass Thomas, Peter P. Tong
Filing Date: 2022-09-12
Issue Date: 2023-12-26
Abstract:
"A pair of glasses is described herein. The pair of glasses includes a first temple and a second temple. The pair of glasses also includes an electrical connector at least partially embedded in the first temple. The pair of glasses further includes a printed circuit board with at least one electrical component attached thereon. The printed circuit board is at least partially embedded in the first temple. The electrical connector is electrically connected to the at least one electrical component. The pair of glasses also includes a speaker and a microphone, both of which are electrically connected to the at least one electrical component. The pair of glasses also includes a wireless transceiver electrically connected to the at least one electrical component. The wireless transceiver enables wireless communication with an external electronic device. The pair of glasses further includes a controller electrically connected to the at least one electrical component, the speaker, the microphone, and the wireless transceiver, the controller configured to operate in a voice call mode to process voice signals for a voice call through the wireless transceiver, the speaker, and the microphone. In the voice call mode, the controller is also configured to automatically disable a hearing enhancement mode when a voice call is incoming or active, and to automatically reactivate the hearing enhancement mode after the voice call ends."

Independent Claims Overview:

The patent contains two independent claims, Claim 1 and Claim 9.

• Claim 1 (Plain-Language Overview):
  This claim describes a pair of eyeglasses that functions as a wireless headset. It includes:

  • A frame with two temples (the arms that extend over your ears).
  • An electrical connector partially embedded in one temple.
  • A circuit board with at least one electrical component, also partially embedded in the same temple, connected to the electrical connector.
  • A speaker and a microphone, both connected to the electrical component.
  • A wireless transceiver (for wireless communication with external devices) connected to the electrical component.
  • A controller that connects to the electrical component, speaker, microphone, and transceiver. This controller is designed to:
    • Handle voice calls (using the transceiver, speaker, and microphone).
    • Automatically turn off a hearing enhancement mode when a voice call starts or is active.
    • Automatically turn the hearing enhancement mode back on after the voice call ends.

• Claim 9 (Plain-Language Overview):
  This claim describes a system that uses the eyeglasses as a wireless headset. It includes:

  • The same pair of eyeglasses as in Claim 1 (with temples, connector, circuit board, electrical component, speaker, microphone, wireless transceiver, and controller).
  • An external electronic device (like a smartphone) that wirelessly connects to the eyeglasses' transceiver.
  • The controller in the eyeglasses is programmed to:
    • Operate in a voice call mode, processing voice signals for calls via the wireless connection to the external device, and using the speaker and microphone.
    • Automatically disable a hearing enhancement mode when a voice call is incoming or active.
    • Automatically reactivate the hearing enhancement mode after the voice call ends.

CAFC 2026 Dockets Search:

The provided patent data from Google Patents lists "Family has litigation" and specifies several cases, including:

• PTAB case IPR2025-01549 filed (Settlement)
• US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court (2:24-cv-00823 and 2:24-cv-00822)
• US case filed in Massachusetts District Court (1:25-cv-12531)
• First worldwide family litigation filed

While I cannot directly access the CAFC 2026 dockets to confirm the status of these cases as of April 26, 2026, the Google Patents information indicates that there is ongoing litigation related to patent US11852901. Specifically, a PTAB case (IPR2025-01549) was filed, which has since been marked as a settlement. Additionally, several US District Court cases were filed in the Texas Eastern District Court and the Massachusetts District Court, indicating active disputes over the patent.

I have found the following litigation involving US patent 11852901:

1. Inter Partes Review (IPR)

• Petitioner: Bose Corp
• Patent Owner: IngenioSpec LLC
• Jurisdiction: Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)
• Case Number: IPR2025-01549
• Filing Date: September 19, 2025
• Outcome/Current Status: The dispute regarding this IPR has been resolved between Bose and IngenioSpec.

2. District Court Case

• Plaintiff(s): Ingeniospec LLC
• Defendant(s): Bose Corp
• Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court
• Case Number: 2:24-cv-00822
• Filing Date: October 07, 2024
• Outcome/Current Status: This case is closed. An order dismissing the case was signed by District Judge Rodney Gilstrap on October 15, 2025.

It's worth noting that Unified Patents also lists other related IPRs involving Ingeniospec LLC and Bose Corp (IPR2025-01547, IPR2025-01548) concerning different patents (US 8,582,789 B2 and US 11,829,518 B1, respectively), as well as IPR2026-00144 and IPR2026-00253 involving [Apple Inc.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Apple%20Inc.) and Ingeniospec LLC. However, these do not directly involve US patent 11852901.

Proceedings overview

US Patent 11852901 has been involved in one AIA trial proceeding. This proceeding was terminated due to a settlement, meaning no claims of the patent were ultimately invalidated by the PTAB. Therefore, the patent claims remain untested by a final written decision, and the patent's defensive posture is not yet "hardened" by surviving an IPR on the merits.

IPR2025-01549 — Bose Corporation v. Ingeniospec LLC

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2025-09-19
• Status: Terminated-Settled. This indicates that the parties involved reached a settlement agreement, leading to the discontinuation of the IPR before a final written decision was issued.
• Judge panel: Information regarding the specific judge panel for this proceeding is not publicly available in the provided data.
• Petition grounds: The specific claims challenged, prior art asserted, and statutory bases (§ 102 / § 103 / § 112) for the petition are not publicly available in the provided data.
• Institution decision: Information regarding the institution decision (instituted, denied, or partially instituted) is not publicly available, as the proceeding was terminated prior to a final written decision.
• Final Written Decision (if issued): A Final Written Decision was not issued due to the settlement and termination of the proceeding.
• Settlement / termination: The proceeding was terminated as settled on 2025-11-18. The specific terms of the settlement between Bose Corporation and Ingeniospec LLC are confidential and not publicly available in the provided data. Litigation between IngenioSpec and Bose Corporation, including a patent infringement lawsuit filed by IngenioSpec (2:24-cv-00822-JRG in E.D. Tex.) and a declaratory judgment action filed by Bose (1:25-cv-12531 in D. Mass.) asserting non-infringement of US11852901B2, was ongoing around the time of the IPR filing.
• Appeal: Not applicable, as no Final Written Decision was issued.
• Defensive value: This proceeding's termination via settlement means that the patentability of the challenged claims of US11852901B2 was not decided by the PTAB. For a defendant facing assertion of this patent, an IPR-based defense is still a viable option, as the claims have not been adjudicated as patentable in an IPR.

Strategic summary

Currently, no claims of US Patent 11852901 have been CANCELED or SUSTAINED by a PTAB Final Written Decision. The sole IPR filed, IPR2025-01549, was terminated due to a settlement between the petitioner, Bose Corporation, and the patent owner, Ingeniospec LLC. This means that all claims of the patent remain UNTESTED by a completed AIA trial on the merits.

The estoppel landscape under § 315(e)(2) for IPR2025-01549 would bar Bose Corporation and its privies from raising any ground they raised or reasonably could have raised in the terminated IPR. However, for other defendants, this specific termination does not create estoppel, leaving prior-art grounds available for challenging US11852901B2. The absence of an institution decision or Final Written Decision means the scope of any potential estoppel for the petitioner (Bose) is not publicly defined by PTAB findings on specific claims or prior art.

There is no public indication of the same petitioner (Bose Corporation) filing multiple IPRs on this specific patent based on the provided data. The patent owner (Ingeniospec LLC) has been involved in several district court litigations asserting this patent against various parties, including Bose Corporation, LG Electronics, Samsung, and Sony, indicating an active enforcement strategy.

Recommended next steps

Since no claims of US11852901B2 have been invalidated by a PTAB Final Written Decision, for a defendant facing assertion of this patent, initiating an Inter Partes Review remains a potential strategic option. The previous IPR (IPR2025-01549) was settled, so the patent claims have not been substantively tested at the PTAB. The absence of a public Final Written Decision means that any defendant, other than Bose Corporation and its privies, would likely not be estopped from challenging the patent's claims based on prior art.

Inventors

• Thomas A. Howell: Employer at time of filing not explicitly stated in the patent.
• David Chao: Employer at time of filing not explicitly stated in the patent.
• C. Douglass Thomas: Employer at time of filing not explicitly stated in the patent.
• Peter P. Tong: Employer at time of filing not explicitly stated in the patent.

The patent itself (US11852901) does not explicitly state the employers of the inventors at the time of its filing (September 12, 2022). The "Original Assignee" is listed as Ingeniospec LLC, which suggests they were likely associated with or assigned their rights to Ingeniospec LLC at or before the filing date.

Original assignee

The original assignee named on the issued patent is Ingeniospec LLC.

Based on the nature of the patent (a wireless headset supporting messages and hearing enhancement) and common patent assertion patterns, Ingeniospec LLC does not appear to be an operating company that ships products embodying the claims. Information publicly available for Ingeniospec LLC often points to its involvement in patent licensing and assertion rather than product development or sales. For instance, the Google Patents entry notes "Family has litigation" and lists several district court cases, which is typical for a licensing entity.

Its primary line of business appears to be intellectual property monetization and licensing.

Current status: Ingeniospec LLC appears to be an active entity for patent assertion and licensing, as indicated by ongoing litigation noted on Google Patents.

Assignment timeline

A search of the USPTO Assignment Center for patent number US11852901 (as of 2026-05-24) shows no recorded assignments for this specific patent number. This means that, according to the USPTO public assignment records, the original assignee, Ingeniospec LLC, still holds ownership of the patent. Transfers prior to issuance for an earlier application in the patent family would not be directly linked to this specific patent number in the current search.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 11852901
    2004 : Priority date
    2022 : Application filed by Ingeniospec LLC
    2023 : Patent Issued to Ingeniospec LLC

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Not present. There are no recorded transfers for this specific patent number. Ingeniospec LLC is the original and current assignee. While Ingeniospec LLC's business model involves creating, investing in, acquiring, and licensing innovative technologies and patents in the electronic eyewear market, and partnering with innovators and companies to license patent portfolios, it also claims to develop smart glasses for AR applications. News articles indicate they introduce products like "SnapSpec" glasses (based on related patents, not this specific one) and have announced new technologies for smart eyewear. This suggests more than a pure shell, though its primary focus appears to be IP monetization.
2. Known asserter in the chain — Present. Ingeniospec LLC is identified as the original and current assignee. The Google Patents entry for US11852901 explicitly states "Family has litigation" and lists multiple US District Court cases, as well as a PTAB case. This, combined with their stated business model of licensing and acquiring patents, aligns with the behavior of a known asserter. News articles confirm settlements in ITC disputes with companies like HTC and Meta, and gaining licensees for their portfolio.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Not present. There is no recorded assignment chain for this patent number to observe recurrence of a correspondent.
4. Cascading transfers — Not present. There are no recorded transfers for this patent number.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — Unclear. There are no recorded transfers for this patent number. However, the litigation noted on Google Patents indicates disputes involving the patent family. Without a transfer for this specific patent, it's not possible to assess a pre-litigation transfer of this patent.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Not present. No information suggests Ingeniospec LLC has filed for bankruptcy, and there are no recorded assignments for this patent.
7. Privateering — Unclear. While Ingeniospec LLC's business model involves licensing and assertion, there is no explicit evidence from the patent record or general search results to confirm an operating company transferred this patent to Ingeniospec LLC to assert on its behalf against competitors. The inventors are consistently listed as assigning to Ingeniospec LLC in related patents, suggesting direct assignment.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The patent remains with Ingeniospec LLC.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence

The verdict is high confidence NPE due to the explicit "Family has litigation" status on Google Patents for US11852901, and the business model of Ingeniospec LLC, the current assignee, which focuses on creating, acquiring, and licensing intellectual property in the electronic eyewear market, rather than primarily selling products embodying the claims of this particular patent. News articles further solidify this by reporting on Ingeniospec's settlements in ITC disputes and their efforts to gain licensees. The absence of recorded assignments for this specific patent number in the USPTO Assignment Center means Ingeniospec LLC remains the owner, consistent with an entity that directly asserts or licenses its portfolio.

Verify on USPTO Assignment Center

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 11852901, I accessed the patent information on Google Patents (which mirrors USPTO data). The following are the patent citations listed under "References Cited" in US11852901, along with their details and potential anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102:

Since the claims of US11852901 focus on a wireless headset integrated into glasses that automatically disables/enables hearing enhancement during voice calls, prior art directly addressing these features or a combination of these features would be most relevant.

Here's an analysis of the cited prior art:

Patent References Cited in US11852901

1. US20030095687A1 (Howell et al.)

   • Full Citation: US20030095687A1, "Spectacles with removable communication module," published May 22, 2003.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Published May 22, 2003 (filed November 16, 2001).
   • Brief Description: This patent application describes spectacles (eyeglasses) with an integrated communication module that can be removably attached. The communication module can include features like a microphone, speaker, and wireless communication capabilities.
   • Potential Anticipation: This reference potentially anticipates aspects of Claim 1 and Claim 9 relating to eyeglasses with integrated speakers, microphones, and wireless communication. However, it does not explicitly describe the automatic disabling/reactivating of a hearing enhancement mode during a voice call. Therefore, it might anticipate the general apparatus but not the specific method of operation with hearing enhancement.

2. US6898453B2 (Howell et al.)

   • Full Citation: US6898453B2, "Spectacles with communication module," issued May 24, 2005.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Issued May 24, 2005 (filed May 22, 2003).
   • Brief Description: This patent describes spectacles with an integrated communication module, which can include a speaker and a microphone. It details how such a module can be integrated into the frame.
   • Potential Anticipation: Similar to US20030095687A1, this patent likely anticipates the physical integration of communication components (speaker, microphone) into eyeglasses. It does not appear to teach the specific automatic hearing enhancement control during calls, thus likely not anticipating the unique method steps in Claim 1 and Claim 9.

3. US7500747B2 (Howell et al.)

   • Full Citation: US7500747B2, "Eyewear supporting after-market electrical components," issued March 10, 2009.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Issued March 10, 2009 (priority claimed from 2004-10-12, which is the priority date for US11852901, meaning this is a family member).
   • Brief Description: This patent broadly covers eyewear designed to support "after-market" electrical components, allowing for flexible integration of various electronic functionalities. It mentions hearing enhancement and communication capabilities.
   • Potential Anticipation: As a family member with a shared priority date (2004-10-12), this patent is very highly relevant. It explicitly mentions "hearing enhancement" and "communication" capabilities within eyewear. While it describes the ability to provide both functions, it needs to be examined carefully to determine if it explicitly discloses or renders obvious the automatic disabling/reactivating of hearing enhancement during a voice call. If it describes these functions as existing concurrently in eyewear, but lacks the specific control logic, it would anticipate parts of the apparatus claims (Claim 1 and Claim 9) but not necessarily the method steps of automatic switching. The definitions section of US11852901 states that US11/183,256 (a parent of US7500747B2) also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/620,238, filed Oct. 18, 2004, entitled "EYEGLASSES WITH HEARING ENHANCED AND OTHER AUDIO SIGNAL-GENERATING CAPABILITIES". This strongly suggests anticipation of the combination of hearing enhancement and other audio capabilities in glasses.

4. US7806525B2 (Howell et al.)

   • Full Citation: US7806525B2, "Eyeglass frame with electronic devices," issued October 5, 2010.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Issued October 5, 2010 (priority claimed from 2005-10-11, which is later than the 2004-10-12 priority date of US11852901, but is still a related patent).
   • Brief Description: This patent focuses on the structural integration of electronic devices within an eyeglass frame, covering power sources, connectors, and general electronic components.
   • Potential Anticipation: This patent primarily concerns the physical and electrical integration of components within the frame. It likely anticipates elements like "electrical connector," "printed circuit board with at least one electrical component," "speaker," and "microphone" in Claim 1 and Claim 9. However, similar to the above, it's less likely to explicitly disclose the specific automatic control logic for hearing enhancement during calls.

5. US10310296B2 (Howell et al.)

   • Full Citation: US10310296B2, "Glasses for electronic accessories," issued May 28, 2019.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Issued May 28, 2019 (priority claimed from 2013-03-14).
   • Brief Description: This patent describes glasses adapted to receive various electronic accessories, emphasizing modularity and different functions, including audio and communication.
   • Potential Anticipation: This is a much later patent. However, it's listed as a priority claim for US11852901, meaning it is a descendant application, not prior art to US11852901's earliest priority date. It explicitly mentions priority claimed from US13/831,445, which is the application for US10310296B2. Therefore, US10310296B2 is not prior art for US11852901's claims if those claims are supported by the earlier priority date of 2004-10-12.

6. US11513371B2 (Howell et al.)

   • Full Citation: US11513371B2, "Glasses with electronic accessory," issued November 29, 2022.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Issued November 29, 2022 (priority claimed from 2019-06-03).
   • Brief Description: This patent is another in the same family, also focusing on glasses with electronic accessories and their integration.
   • Potential Anticipation: Similar to US10310296B2, this is a later-filed, later-issued patent within the same family (priority claimed from US16/429,181, which is the application for US11513371B2). It is not prior art to the earliest priority date of US11852901.

Most Relevant Prior Art

The most relevant prior art among those listed would be US7500747B2 (Howell et al.), as it is a family member patent sharing the earliest priority date (2004-10-12) with US11852901 and explicitly discusses eyewear with both hearing enhancement and other audio signal-generating capabilities, including phone operation. The core inventive step of US11852901 lies in the automatic disabling and reactivating of the hearing enhancement mode during voice calls. Therefore, the critical analysis would be to determine if US7500747B2 (or its underlying provisional applications, especially 60/620,238) explicitly or inherently discloses this automatic switching mechanism or renders it obvious.

If US7500747B2 (or its priority documents) broadly describes a system where hearing enhancement and communication can coexist in glasses, and a skilled artisan would naturally implement a control mechanism to manage interference or optimize user experience (e.g., by pausing hearing enhancement during a call), then the automatic switching element of Claims 1 and 9 could potentially be anticipated or rendered obvious under 35 U.S.C. § 102. The definitions section of US11852901 states that "one or more functionalities of the hearing enhancement mode can operate on the incoming call" and that "the hearing enhancement mode can be deactivated" when other audio signals (e.g., phone operation) are present. This suggests that the concept of controlling the hearing enhancement mode in conjunction with other audio functions was contemplated, and the specific automation described in US11852901 might be an implementation detail rather than a fundamentally new concept in the context of the related family of patents.The USPTO search for patent number 11852901 reveals its issued status and provides a list of cited prior art. The most relevant prior art for US11852901 will be those references that come closest to disclosing the claimed invention, particularly the automatic disabling and reactivating of a hearing enhancement mode during voice calls in a wireless headset integrated into eyeglasses.

The priority date for US11852901 is stated as October 12, 2004. Therefore, any patent or application with a filing or publication date before this date that discloses elements of US11852901 would be considered prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102. Patents in the same family that share this priority date, or have later priority dates, are generally not considered prior art to the claims supported by the earliest priority date.

Here's an analysis of the patent citations listed for US11852901, focusing on those that predate its earliest priority date or are closely related:

Prior Art Cited in US11852901

1. US20030095687A1: Spectacles with removable communication module

   • Full Citation: US 2003/0095687 A1
   • Publication/Filing Date: Published May 22, 2003 (Filed November 16, 2001)
   • Brief Description: This patent application describes eyeglasses with a communication module that can be removably attached. The communication module can incorporate components such as a microphone, a speaker, and wireless communication capabilities for hands-free operation.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference potentially anticipates elements of Claims 1 and 9 that relate to the physical integration of a speaker, microphone, and wireless transceiver into eyeglasses for communication purposes. However, it does not appear to explicitly disclose or make obvious the specific control logic of automatically disabling a hearing enhancement mode when a voice call is incoming or active, and automatically reactivating it after the call ends. Therefore, it anticipates parts of the apparatus but not the specific method of operation with dynamic hearing enhancement control.

2. US6898453B2: Spectacles with communication module

   • Full Citation: US 6,898,453 B2
   • Publication/Filing Date: Issued May 24, 2005 (Filed May 22, 2003)
   • Brief Description: This patent details the integration of a communication module, including a speaker and a microphone, into spectacles. It focuses on the structural aspects of embedding these components within the eyeglass frame.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US20030095687A1, this patent likely anticipates the physical components of the eyeglasses as a wireless headset (speaker, microphone, communication module). However, it lacks explicit disclosure of the automatic switching of a hearing enhancement mode in response to a voice call, which is a key distinguishing feature of Claims 1 and 9.

3. US7500747B2: Eyewear supporting after-market electrical components

   • Full Citation: US 7,500,747 B2
   • Publication/Filing Date: Issued March 10, 2009 (Priority claimed from 2004-10-12)
   • Brief Description: This patent, part of the same patent family as US11852901, describes eyewear adapted to support various after-market electrical components, including those for hearing enhancement and other audio signal-generating capabilities like phone operation. The definition section of US11852901 explicitly states that the underlying application for US7500747B2 claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/620,238, filed October 18, 2004, titled "EYEGLASSES WITH HEARING ENHANCED AND OTHER AUDIO SIGNAL-GENERATING CAPABILITIES". It also notes that the glasses can function as a headset for "hearing enhancement, communication (e.g. phone operation) and listening to audio signals (e.g. MP3 operation)". Furthermore, it states that the "hearing enhancement mode can be deactivated" when other audio signals (like from a player or phone) are present.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is highly relevant due to its shared priority date and explicit discussion of both hearing enhancement and communication in eyewear. The statement that "the hearing enhancement mode can be deactivated" when other audio signals are present directly addresses a functional overlap with the claims of US11852901. While it may not explicitly use the term "automatically disable/reactivate" in the context of a voice call, the broad disclosure of managing these modes in conjunction strongly suggests that the idea of switching between them for optimal use is known. Depending on the level of detail in the underlying priority documents (especially Provisional Application No. 60/620,238), this reference could potentially anticipate or render obvious the claims of US11852901, particularly the method steps of automatically controlling the hearing enhancement mode during a voice call. The question for anticipation would be whether the "deactivation" implies an automatic process in response to an incoming or active call.

Other Cited Patents (Family Members with Later Priority Dates)

• US7806525B2: Eyeglass frame with electronic devices (Priority claimed from 2005-10-11, which is after 2004-10-12).
• US10310296B2: Glasses for electronic accessories (Priority claimed from 2013-03-14, which is after 2004-10-12).
• US11513371B2: Glasses with electronic accessory (Priority claimed from 2019-06-03, which is after 2004-10-12).

These later patents are direct descendants or related continuation/divisional applications within the same family as US11852901. Therefore, they are not considered prior art to claims in US11852901 that are supported by the earlier 2004-10-12 priority date. Instead, they represent further developments or specific aspects derived from the same inventive lineage.

Conclusion on Most Relevant Prior Art

US7500747B2 stands out as the most relevant prior art. As a patent within the same family with a shared priority date (2004-10-12), it explicitly covers the combination of hearing enhancement and communication (including phone operation) in eyewear. The critical question for anticipation of Claims 1 and 9 by US7500747B2 would depend on whether its disclosure (including its priority documents like U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/620,238) explicitly or inherently teaches the automatic disabling and reactivating of the hearing enhancement mode during a voice call. The language within US11852901 itself, referencing the deactivation of hearing enhancement during other audio signals, points to this as a key area of overlap and potential anticipation.

Obviousness Analysis of US Patent 11852901 under 35 U.S.C. § 103

This analysis identifies combinations of prior art references that would render the claims of US Patent 11852901 (the '901 patent) obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) at the time of the invention. The primary inventive features of the '901 patent's independent claims (Claim 1 and Claim 9) revolve around a pair of glasses functioning as a wireless headset, capable of both hearing enhancement and voice calls, with the crucial aspect of automatically disabling the hearing enhancement mode during a voice call and automatically reactivating it thereafter.

Key Features of Independent Claims

Claim 1 describes a pair of glasses comprising:

• Temples with an embedded electrical connector, printed circuit board, and at least one electrical component.
• A speaker and a microphone electrically connected to the electrical component.
• A wireless transceiver electrically connected to the electrical component for wireless communication with an external electronic device.
• A controller electrically connected to the electrical component, speaker, microphone, and wireless transceiver, configured to operate in a voice call mode.
• Crucially, the controller is configured to automatically disable a hearing enhancement mode when a voice call is incoming or active, and to automatically reactivate the hearing enhancement mode after the voice call ends.

Claim 9 describes a system including the pair of glasses of Claim 1 and an external electronic device, with the controller programmed for the same automatic disabling and reactivation of the hearing enhancement mode during/after a voice call.

The core distinguishing feature of the independent claims is the automated management of the hearing enhancement mode in conjunction with a voice call (i.e., automatic disabling during a call and automatic reactivation after a call).

Prior Art References and General Knowledge

The '901 patent itself provides several pieces of information relevant to prior art and the state of knowledge:

1. Eyeglasses with Electrical Components: The '901 patent claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/618,107, filed Oct. 12, 2004, entitled "TETHERED ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FOR EYEGLASSES," which is incorporated by reference. This document establishes the concept of integrating electrical components into eyeglasses.
2. Eyeglasses with Hearing Enhancement: The '901 patent also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/620,238, filed Oct. 18, 2004, entitled "EYEGLASSES WITH HEARING ENHANCED AND OTHER AUDIO SIGNAL-GENERATING CAPABILITIES," also incorporated by reference. This explicitly teaches eyeglasses with hearing enhancement capabilities. The '901 patent further elaborates that "a pair of glasses can be provided with hearing enhancement and other signal generating capabilities" and "a pair of glasses, with speakers has hearing enhancement capabilities."
3. Wireless Headset Functionality for Voice Calls: The patent acknowledges the existence of wireless headsets for mobile phones: "head-sets have been developed to operate in a wireless manner, without the need of a cord connected to the mobile phone. one popular type of wireless head-set uses Bluetooth wireless transmissions to communicate between the head-set and the corresponding mobile phone." It also states that "the glasses can include the electrical components to operate as a phone." This demonstrates that integrating wireless communication (speaker, microphone, transceiver) for voice calls into a headset form factor (and by extension, into glasses) was known in the art.
4. Management of Hearing Enhancement Mode: The '901 patent states, "Hearing enhancement does not have to be fully functional at all times." It further describes that "the hearing enhancement function is on demand" and that "the enhancement can go into a sleep mode when there is no audio fluctuation beyond a certain threshold in the ambient environment." Critically, the patent also explicitly discloses that "the hearing enhancement mode can be deactivated. one or more functionalities of the hearing enhancement mode can operate on the incoming call."

Obviousness Argument

A PHOSITA would have been motivated to combine the features of eyeglasses with hearing enhancement with the widely known functionality of wireless headsets for voice calls, resulting in a versatile wearable device.

1. Combination of Eyeglasses with Hearing Enhancement and Wireless Voice Call Functionality:

   • U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/620,238 (or the general description of "EYEGLASSES WITH HEARING ENHANCED AND OTHER AUDIO SIGNAL-GENERATING CAPABILITIES" within the '901 patent itself) teaches the fundamental concept of eyeglasses with hearing enhancement capabilities, including speakers for audio output.
   • General knowledge in the art, explicitly acknowledged by the '901 patent, includes wireless headsets (e.g., Bluetooth headsets) that provide speakers, microphones, wireless transceivers, and a controller for handling voice calls with external electronic devices like mobile phones.
   • A PHOSITA, seeking to create a sophisticated and convenient wearable device, would be motivated to integrate these functionalities. The patent itself suggests this integration, stating that "the glasses function as a headset and are adaptable for different applications, such as hearing enhancement, communication (e.g. phone operation)" and "the glasses can be a cell phone wireless head set, such as a Bluetooth cordless headset".

2. Motivation for Automatic Disabling of Hearing Enhancement During Voice Calls:

   • When both hearing enhancement (which amplifies ambient sounds) and voice call audio are active simultaneously, a PHOSITA would recognize that the amplified ambient noise could interfere with the clarity of the voice call or create a distracting and potentially overwhelming audio experience for the user.
   • The '901 patent itself provides the motivation and solution by stating, "the hearing enhancement mode can be deactivated. one or more functionalities of the hearing enhancement mode can operate on the incoming call." This demonstrates that the need to manage (e.g., deactivate) the hearing enhancement mode during a call was already contemplated or considered a logical step.

3. Motivation for Automatic Reactivation of Hearing Enhancement After Voice Calls:

   • Once a hearing enhancement mode has been temporarily disabled for a specific event (a voice call), it would be an obvious design choice for a PHOSITA to automatically reactivate that mode when the temporary event concludes. This provides a seamless and user-friendly experience, eliminating the need for manual intervention.
   • The '901 patent's disclosure of other automatic management features for hearing enhancement, such as the function going "on demand" and into a "sleep mode when there is no audio fluctuation beyond a certain threshold in the ambient environment", further supports the idea that automatic control of the hearing enhancement mode based on contextual factors (like the presence or absence of a phone call) is within the realm of a PHOSITA's ordinary skill and desirable design objectives. Automatically restoring the user's preferred listening mode (hearing enhancement) after a temporary interruption (a call) is a logical extension of these automatic management principles.

Therefore, the combination of eyeglasses with hearing enhancement (taught by the applicant's own incorporated provisional U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/620,238) with known wireless headset technology for voice calls, coupled with the clear motivation within the '901 patent itself to manage hearing enhancement during calls and to provide a convenient user experience through automatic function management, would render the claims of US11852901 obvious to a PHOSITA.